Ando, M., Morita, T., Akechi, T., Ito, S., Tanaka, M., Ifuku, Y., & Nakayama, T. (2009). The efficacy of mindfulness-based meditation therapy on anxiety, depression, and spirituality in Japanese patients with cancer. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 12,1091–1094.
To determine the effects of a mindfulness intervention on anxiety, depression, and spirituality
The intervention involved 30–60-minute cyclic meditation and yoga training with practice at home. In pretherapy sessions, patients learned the cyclic meditation program and were recommended to perform the therapy at home once daily. After two weeks, patients met therapists in a second session to talk about their impressions.
Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.
A pre/post-intervention study design was used.
Anxiety (p = 0.01) and depression (p = 0.009) decreased significantly. There was no significant change related to spirituality. Spirituality is correlated with anxiety and depression.
Mindfulness-based cyclic meditation affects anxiety and depression for Japanese patients with cancer and may be effective as an individual short-term therapy.
This type of intervention may be helpful to some patients to affect anxiety and depression during cancer treatment. The amount of training required for administration of the therapy, as well as therapist time with the patient, suggests that this approach may be feasible.